Uhuru promises fish factory in Homa Bay

By Standard On Saturday Team

KENYA: Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta took his campaigns to Homa Bay town after skipping a rally in Kisumu.

Uhuru jetted into the town where he was welcomed by hundreds of residents, following wrangles between some Jubilee leaders in Kisumuon where to hold the rally.

Contrary to prior suspicion that violence would erupt, Uhuru was received warmly. He urged residents to elect a young person as president to improve the economy.

 “Old men should go home because we are at an opportune moment for young people to acquire leadership to allow fresh ideas which will improve the economy. I am ready to serve your interests when you elect me on Monday,” Uhuru said. He said old men had failed to address challenges like unemployment. The DPM promised to establish a fish manufacturing industry in Homa Bay town to enhance income of the locals.

Enhance economy

“It is unfortunate you are the ones who toil in fishing yet the money obtained from fish manufacturing remains in Nairobi. I don’t want you to suffer any more since my Government will prioritise establishment of a fish manufacturing industry here,” Uhuru said. His running mateWilliam Ruto appealed to Kenyans to avoid tribalism in choosing who becomes president. “Every Kenyan should understand we are not going to elect tribes but we are going to elect a president based on their plans of transforming Kenyans’ lives,” he said.

He pledged a Jubilee Government would improve agriculture to enhance the economy. Earlier, the rivalry between The National Alliance (TNA) and United Republican Party (URP) manifested itself in the county following differences on where to hold the rally.

The two teams had booked different venues with URP reserving Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground within Central Business District and TNA paid for space outside Moi Stadium. TNA Secretary General Onyango Oloo said Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground was not ideal because it’s less spacious. “There is no enough landing space for six choppers at the sports ground,” he said.

At Kapkatet stadium, the Jubilee team appealed to supporters to turn up in large numbers to vote for the alliance to win in the first round. Uhuru said the Sh6 billion set aside for a run-off was better saved for development projects. “We are confidence we will form the next Government and we will give the money to youths and women as start up capital for business,” he said. He reminded the thousands of supporters at the historical ground that his father, Kenya’s founding President Jomo Kenyatta was blessed and anointed for leadership in the stadium by Kalenjin elders.

He said his unity with Ruto was solid and with their communities backing they would to steer the country for the next 20 years.

Uhuru expressed confidence that Kenyans will prove to the western world that they were a mature and capable of deciding their own destiny. He said the historic stadium would be constructed to international standards to fit its historical significance. Ruto assured the Kalenjin community they were batter placed under Jubilee government.

He brushed aside former Kass FM Journalist Joshua arap Sang for backing CORD, saying it is of no consequence. He said Sang had cut the deal with Raila for personal gains since he does not have a strong political base. The Jubilee team then campaigned in Bungoma County urging the residents to unite with them in forming the next government. “We are united as Kenyans by the many problems that bring us together. Let an election not divide us because just like a football match, it’s an exercise that will end but the country will remain,” said Uhuru.

In apparent reference to their CORD rivals, Uhuru promised an Olive Branch to others in the event Jubilee forms the next government.

Ruto dismissed claims by their CORD rivals that they had skipped Western. “Those saying we had avoided to come here must be having problems with their calendar because here is where we started our campaign to lead this nation last year and we promised to come back as we close our campaigns and we have kept that promise,” he said.